Sharks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse has made a timely return to form. As South African rugby supporters gear up for two massive United Rugby Championship derbies this weekend, several fringe Springboks will want to use the platform to send a loud message to Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. The Lions host the Bulls on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off) eager to consolidate their place in the top eight in the URC table, while the Bulls want to keep their momentum going after recently breaking a seven-game losing streak.
he Sharks have finally found their spark under interim coach JP Pietersen and handed the Stormers their first defeat of the URC campaign in Cape Town last weekend. The two teams meet again in Durban on Saturday, with the Cape side looking for revenge. These matches certainly provide some of the Springboks on the fringes a chance to stake an early claim ahead of a busy international calendar later this year.
Here are four players who will be looking to put in big performances this weekend. Having fallen behind the likes of Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach in recent years, Hendrikse seems to have rediscovered the tactical poise that made him a Bok in the first place. His performance against the Stormers last weekend was marked by a crisp service and a pinpoint box-kicking game.
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On his day, he is right up there with some of the best game-drivers in the country. The Stormers’ powerhouse has endured a frustrating run with injuries and missed last Saturday’s match against the Sharks. But he is set to be back for the return match, in a big boost for the Stormers.
When fit, Roos is one of the most dynamic ball-carriers in the country from the back of the scrum. His ability to generate momentum from a standing start and his high work rate makes him a massive player for the Stormers. A big display against a Springbok-laden Sharks team will certainly make the selectors sit up and take notice.
The full-back has been a consistent performer in an inconsistent Lions side. Horn’s counter-attacking ability and safe hands under the high ball are well known, but it’s in these big derbies where you are measured against your peers. With Bulls No 15 Willie le Roux entering the twilight of his career, Horn needs to find that extra gear and magic to get into the 2027 Rugby World Cup conversation.
Long touted as the most technically proficient hooker in South Africa, Grobbelaar has been the heart of the Bulls’ recent resurgence. His line-out accuracy remains world-class, but it is his presence at the breakdown that has caught the eye. In a position where the Boks value mobility, abrasiveness and an ability to steal the ball, Grobbelaar is making an undeniable case to be Malcolm Marx’s second-in-command later this year.
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